Police resist students’ programme in Sylhet; 20 injured

Staff Correspondent: A Students Against Discrimination march was met with resistance from police in Sylhet. The protest, organized as part of the nationwide student movement, was disrupted when police fired sound grenades, tear gas shells, and shotgun pellets, scattering the demonstrators. During the confrontation, seven individuals were detained by the police.

The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on Friday in the Akhalia area near Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST).

Reports indicate that at least 20 people, including students, police officers, and passersby, sustained injuries, though their identities have not been immediately confirmed. Additionally, Mithu Das Joy, a correspondent for the daily Kalbela newspaper, was reportedly injured by gunfire.

The student protesters had planned a march across various religious sites following Friday prayers. As part of this, they attempted to gather at the main gate of SUST around 3:30 p.m., but were prevented from doing so by police. Subsequently, the students assembled in front of Mount Adora Hospital in Akhalia, only to face police aggression there too with sound grenades, tear gas, and shotgun fire.

Azbahar Ali Sheikh, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, stated that the police had instructed the students to disperse when they blocked the road and caused public inconvenience.

According to him, the students responded by throwing bricks and stones at the police, prompting the use of crowd control measures. The police have detained seven individuals, though their names and affiliations have not yet been released.